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14 Canada Cat Statistics & Facts All Cat Lovers Should Know (2024 Update)

Written by: Chelsie Frasier

Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Canadian Cat Statistics

14 Canada Cat Statistics & Facts All Cat Lovers Should Know (2024 Update)

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

There’s no doubt that cats are one of the most popular pets in Canada, and the numbers keep climbing. Did you know that Canada has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world and that over half of Canadian pet owners have cats?

If you’ve ever wondered about how many cats there are in Canada, where they come from, or the cost of keeping a cat, we’re here to answer all your questions. Here is an in-depth look into Canadian cat statistics.

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Top 14 Canadian Cat Statistics

  1. It is estimated that 38% of Canadian households own a cat.
  2. There has been an 18% increase in pet ownership since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, and 57% of new pet owners chose cats.
  3. As of 2021, there are an estimated 8.1 million cats living in Canadian households.
  4. Only 46% of Canadian cat owners take their cats to the veterinarian.
  5. 58% of cat owners state that their cat is in excellent health.
  6. Vets in Canada report that 70% of the cats that they examine don’t receive adequate exercise.
  7. Fewer than 3% of Canadian cat owners have pet insurance.
  8. The average cost of owning a cat in Canada is between $1,075 and $2,225 per year.
  9. Sales of wet cat food in 2020 totaled $394 million.
  10. Animal shelter statistics for 2019 show that over 78,000 cats took refuge in shelters.
  11. On average, cats are taken into shelters with twice the frequency of dogs.
  12. 85% of cats in Canadian shelters are adopted into new homes or returned to their owners.
  13. The average length of stay for a cat in a Canadian animal shelter is under 30 days.
  14. It is estimated that Canada’s stray and feral cat population ranges between 1.2 and 4 million, which is the equivalent of 6%–15% of the human population.
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Cat Population Statistics

1. It is estimated that 38% of Canadian households own a cat.

(Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association)

Canada has the highest percentage of households with pets in the developed world. This includes approximately 8.1 million cats. Cats are the most common household pets in Canada, with dogs following closely behind.


2. There has been an 18% increase in pet ownership since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, and 57% of new pet owners chose cats.

(Narrative Research)

Country-wide lockdowns saw more people seeking companionship at home. Many Canadians took the opportunity to adopt an animal, and 57% of those new pet owners chose to bring home a cat. 55% chose dogs, 9% chose fish, and only 6% took in a bird.

napoleon cat sitting
Image Credit: Daves Domestic Cats, Shutterstock

3. As of 2021, there are an estimated 8.1 million cats living in Canadian households.

(Canadian Animal Health Institute)

The number of domestic cats has remained stable since 2018. Cats outnumber dogs as the most popular house pets.

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Cat Health Statistics

4. Only 46% of Canadian cat owners take their cats to the veterinarian.

(TVP)

Despite veterinarian recommendations for yearly checkups, less than half of Canadian cat owners follow this advice. This number is increasing each year, partly due to awareness campaigns on vaccinations and wellness visits.

The biggest barrier to regular veterinary checkups is the cost of veterinary care. While most owners agree that they are willing to sacrifice for vet care when there are health concerns, rising costs prevent some owners from attending regular checkups for healthy pets.

vet doctor examining cat in x-ray room
Image Credit: PRESSLAB, Shutterstock

5. 58% of cat owners state that their cat is in excellent health.

(Ipsos Reid)

There is no doubt that Canadian cat owners love their pets. Most owners report that their pets are in excellent health. According to a poll examining pet ownership, most pet owners are willing to ensure that their cats receive quality healthcare when it’s needed.

Canadians spend more money on their cats than owners in other countries, too, with an average of $800 in pet spending per year.


6. Vets in Canada report that 70% of the cats that they examine don’t receive adequate exercise.

(Canada’s Pet Wellness Report)

Unfortunately, Canadian cat owners are falling behind in getting their cats adequate exercise. Statistics show that many households spend nearly three times as much time watching TV as exercising their pet daily.

Overfeeding leading to obesity is a major risk for Canadian housecats and something that veterinarians are concerned about.

feral cats eating at the park_Murat An
Image Credit: Murat An, Shutterstock

7. Fewer than 3% of Canadian cat owners have pet insurance.

(TIME)

Over 1/3 of pet owners use their credit cards to pay for emergency vet visits. While pet insurance is readily available, many owners feel that it isn’t worth the premiums.

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The Cost of Cat Ownership in Canada

8. The average cost of owning a cat in Canada is between $1,075 and $2,225 per year.

(Wealth Awesome)

This cost is in addition to the upfront costs of adopting a cat or purchasing a kitten from a breeder.

When it comes to pet-related expenses, location matters, as the cost of pet ownership directly correlates with housing costs and costs of living. If you live in an area with a higher cost of living, your cat’s care will cost more, too.

Snowshoe cat lying on woven mat
Image Credit: Aleksandar Nalbantjan, Shutterstock

9. Sales of wet cat food in 2020 totaled $394 million.

(Statista)

Wet cat food sales significantly outrank wet dog food sales, which only total $197 million. Dry cat food sales total approximately $841 million. Cat treat sales in Canada in 2020 totaled $149 million.

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Cat Rescue and Overpopulation Statistics

10. Animal shelter statistics for 2019 show that over 78,000 cats took refuge in shelters.

(Humane Society Canada)

Cats have held the highest number of spots in Canadian animal shelters for several years. The good news is that most of these animals are adopted out to new homes.

Many Canadian cat rescues have developed humane “trap and release” programs for strays or “farm cat” programs for cats that are considered inappropriate for adoption as housecats. These programs are designed to reduce the overpopulation of feral cats. Farm or barn cat programs offer safe homes for previously feral cats that are suitable for controlling rodent populations on farms and acreages.

nebelung cat sitting on grass
Image Credit: Therese Elaine, Shutterstock+

11. On average, cats are taken into shelters with twice the frequency of dogs.

(Nature)

Cats take up roughly double the number of shelter spaces that dogs do. This is thought to be due to an overpopulation of feral cats combined with a large number of unplanned and unwanted litters.


12. 85% of cats in Canadian shelters are adopted into new homes or returned to their owners.

(CBC)

The most recent published report from the Humane Society of Canada is from 2019. It shows that 15% of shelter cats had to be euthanized that year, while the other 85% were either reclaimed by owners or rehomed.

cats sleeping near leather boots
Image Credit: Piqsels

13. The average length of stay for a cat in a Canadian animal shelter is under 30 days.

(Humane Society Canada)

The longer that an animal stays in a shelter, the more likely that their health or behaviour will deteriorate and the less likely that they will be adopted. In other words, the shorter their stay in a shelter, the better. Since 2019, cats’ average stay in Canadian shelters has steadily remained at under 30 days. This is the shortest average stay for any type of animal.


14. It is estimated that Canada’s stray and feral cat population ranges between 1.2 & 4 million, which is the equivalent of 6–15% of the human population.

(Avian Conservation & Ecology)

These numbers are estimates, as it is difficult to track the true number of feral cats due to the nature of their population. The estimates include both “feral” cats—those that are wild—and “stray” cats—those that are lost or abandoned.

Beautiful well-groomed cat is lost_IRINA ORLOVA_Shutterstock
Image Credit: Irina Orlova, Shutterstock

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cats in Canada

Does Canada euthanize cats in shelters?

Approximately 15% of cats in Canadian shelters were euthanized in 2020. This has decreased significantly over the past decade; in 2010, 46% of cats in shelters were euthanized.

While the primary reason for euthanasia used to be overpopulation, the focus of animal shelters has shifted to rehoming, spay-and-neuter programs, and alternative programs, like barn cat or farm cat programs for feral cats. The majority of euthanasia in 2020 was due to health issues or injuries that prevented them from being adopted.

(Humane Canada)

What is the most popular pet in Canada?

Cats! Over half of Canadian households have at least one pet, and cats slightly outnumber dogs as the most prevalent. A national survey from June 2021 shows that Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and Ontario residents are more likely to have household pets than those in B.C. and the Prairie Provinces.

(Abacus Data)

Abyssinian cat sitting in tower
Image By: Darya Lavinskaya, Shutterstock

What is the average number of cats per household in Canada?

According to The Business of Urban Animals Survey, 4,820,085 households in Canada have cats, which is an average of 1.76 cats per household. Among the respondents to the survey, 56% of Canadian households have at least one pet, 23% report having cats only, 20% have dogs only, and 13% had both species.

(The Canadian Veterinary Journal)

Which province in Canada has the most cats?

Québec is the province with the most cats. According to the Association des Médicins Vétérinaires du Québec, the number of cats in the province surpassed 3 million, which is more than the human population of Montreal.

The proportion of households in Québec with at least one cat is 31%, with the 18–34-year-old demographic most likely to own a cat.

(MTL)

A cat lost in the urban jungle
Image By: AM.studios, Shutterstock

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Conclusion

Canada has one of the highest rates of cat ownership in the entire world. Despite the overwhelming numbers of cats that end up in shelters, recent programs have been developed that shorten the length of time that cats stay there. This promotes cat adoption and reduces the incidence of euthanasia. The country is also seeing improvements in awareness regarding veterinary care. The increasing rate of pet ownership in recent years suggests that Canada’s love of cats isn’t going away any time soon.


Featured Image Credit: Luis Echeverri Urrea, Shutterstock

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